I'm reading a lot about the wood pellet stoves, since I would really like to be free of the heating oil bill.
What surprised me from some of my reading was the size hopper one would need for one to run un-attended for a day.
I'm curious if anyone is using one as a furnace/home heating system. How much does it furnace cost, pros, cons...etc. I would really like to hear some real world experience, good and bad, before talking to the dealers/installers.

This one i have in the front of the store, it has a 240 lbs hopper. It's good for 5 days and nights before a refill depending on the weather it can go 7 days. 240Lbs holds 6-40 lbs bags Under 4 bucks a bag.
This is a commercial pellet stove. Cost 1199.00 New. Needs to be cleaned every hopper fill. Rated 2,200 square feet.

This is a 40 Lbs hopper. I had it modified to hold 200LBS of pellets. This is put on for a few hours in the morning then turned off since the T-shirt heaters and the Pellet stove in the front is more than enought to heat the building. Cost 400.00 New. needs to be cleaned every hopper fill. Rated 1,500 square feet.
Since using these side by side, I think the smaller unit accually puts out more heat. But i need the stoves to last the weekend since I'm not there.
My house I have one simular to the smaller one, Over the stove is my return for the Air, so I got lucky It sucks up the heat and distributes it rather nicely threw out the house. I still am running off the 100 gallons i put in last year in October. I think 2 or 3 times I had to kick on the oil heat for a few hours.
I don't know if your hot water is Oil also like mine, Hey worse case is you'll still have an awsome fireplace.
Theres 2 types of pellet stoves "top feeders" and "bottom Feeders" One drops the pellets into the pot from the top, and the other kinda screws them in from the bottom. Most will say "top feeders" are more accurate and reliable. I would have to agree, but BOTH work well.
NUTTZ
P.S. to answer your question Unattended for a day my 40 lbs hopper at home is unattended all day, on low it will last close to 48 hours on it's next level up (what I leave it on) it will last about 24-30 hours.
NUTTZ